Tottenham and Aston Villa are competing to sign a standout player in January!

Press reports indicate that Tottenham and Aston Villa are currently competing to sign Pavel Sulc—considered one of the world's best players in his position—who is enjoying excellent form with Olympique Lyonnais.

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He is already on the radar of major European clubs, and the French side is prepared to negotiate and open discussions with interested parties.

Word has it, courtesy of Hooligan Soccer, that a pair of English sides — Aston Villa and Tottenham — have their eyes fixed on the 25-year-old playmaker as they weigh up ways to sharpen their attacking options once the season reaches its midway point. What has drawn both clubs toward him is his versatility going forward, comfortably operating either as a number ten or drifting out to the wide areas.

Pavel Sulc on the radar of two Premier League giants!

The Czech international, who made the switch to Lyon from Viktoria Plzen in the summer of 2025, has since racked up 45 appearances and left his mark on 24 goals. Such steady output has naturally caught the attention of suitors, and clubs are now positioning themselves to formalise their interest.

Tottenham's admiration stretches back to his Viktoria Plzen days, and even after a summer of heavy investment in their front line, the North London outfit remain open to spending on the 25-year-old as a way of sharpening the competition within their squad.

Over at Villa, the thinking is somewhat different — they view Sulc as a clear step up from what they currently possess in the number ten position. Add to that his capacity to operate out wide, and Unai Emery would suddenly have a far broader range of tactical options at his disposal.

What are Lyon's demands for the sale?

Lyon have no intention of parting with their prized asset on the cheap. With his current deal set to keep him at the club until 2029, the French side hold all the cards. Although the player's market value is estimated at roughly €20 million ($22.7 million), Lyon have set their sights much higher — they will not even sit down at the negotiating table for anything less than €50 million ($57 million).

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As things stand, the player's camp would prefer he remains in France, where he can count on consistent playing time to continue his development. Lyon, however, are not opposed to a sale — provided their conditions are fully satisfied. That means not only meeting the €50 million asking price, but also agreeing to substantial performance-based bonuses and a sell-on clause that would give the club a share of any future transfer fee.

Hazem Mlhem |

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Hazem Mlhem est un rédacteur sportif expérimenté, animé par une passion pour le football africain.

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